Pirelli ?óÔé¼?ôon target?óÔé¼?Ø after first test session

Pirelli has completed its first test session at Mugello this week and has announced it is on target to return to Formula One for the 2011 season.

Nick Heidfeld spent two days at the wheel of Toyota?óÔé¼Ôäós 2009 TF109, evaluating prototype versions of the new Pirelli Pzero F1 tyre, which will be used by all teams from next season under a three-year agreement with the FIA.

Pirelli’s Motorsport Director Paul Hembery said: ?óÔé¼?ôThis was the first step of our return to Formula One and we are very satisfied with how the tyres performed and the information we were able to collect.

?óÔé¼?ôWe concentrated on finalising the profile and the construction of the front and rear tyres, which is a process that we will continue over the next few tests that we carry out.

?óÔé¼?ôMugello has quite an abrasive surface with long and medium-high-speed corners as well as hairpins and quick changes of direction so it is quite a good proving ground. We are on target and we come away from this test with lots of data to analyse, which is exactly the situation we hoped to be in.?óÔé¼?Ø

Hembery added that he is grateful to Toyota and Heidfeld for their assistance:

A lot of people have made a big commitment to get to where we are today in a very short period of time, and the effort really has been incredible.

The Toyota team has also been very professional and provided a good, reliable car.

We are also all very happy to begin our relationship with Nick, who gave us a lot of good feedback and suggestions.Paul Hembery

Pirelli will continue its Formula One tyre development programme later this month.

Oh i forgot to mention, what I read somewhere yesterday, that they did 65 laps yesterday. Not too much, but maybe it took a while to get the car started in the first place and Heidfeld fitted in.
Especially as Heidfeld was reported to have been delayed because of the birh of his 3rd child and the closure of Florence airport.

Their tyres are going to be even more terrible (from a fans perspective) than Bridgestone. I have no hope for Pirelli, so at the very least I can be a little surprised if things do turn out nice, which they won’t.

They’re even using these same tyres for GP2. You guys need to realise how much of a stake they’re taking here. You really think they’ll make interesting tyres when they’re the sole provider for TWO high profile series?

@Steezy – as far as i’m aware, rather than F1 using the GP2 tyre, they are developing a tyre for F1 that the GP2 series will also use.

Also, Keith, i’ve heard rumours on forums that this might have been the 2010 toyota (or at least a 2009 car that looks suspiciously different). Not sure whether there is any truth about this – can anyone comfirm the car?

Great that there is an independent chassis available and praise for M.Todt that nothing like the Bridgestone/Ferrari relationship is happening this time.
Much of his previous experience is being used to avoid historic problems and give us a better deal

I don’t understand these people who want tyres to be so flimsy they fall apart after 10 laps. This is RACING not some economical test, we want drivers to be pushing all the time and on the limit, not taking it easy. I don’t understand some people

When Goodyear had a monopoly and produced very hard, very long lasting tyres we had some fantastic racing. 99% of the time in an overtaking situation both drivers are on very similar tyres so it makes little differance. That’s why on the very few times there is a differance people talk about it. The tyres have a huge influence on lap times, but very little on the quality of racing other than in exceptional circumstances.

Aren’t Pirelli also supplying GP3? Are they going to be Pzeros too? Actually isn’t it strange that the manufactures are using the same branding for the F1 tyres as their normal road tyres, you would think they would be called ‘Formula’ or ‘GP’?
Also, any news on what will be used to distinguish option tyres? Will it be the same boring green lines or would they do something (gulp) different?? :-)